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(ModeL) J. J. GREENOUGH.

APPARATUS FOR PIERGING EARS AND INSERTING EAR RINGS. No. 248.855. Patented Nov. 1,1881.

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JOHN JAMES GREENOUGIL OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR PIERCING EARS AND INSERTING EAR-RINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,855, dated November 1, 1881.

Application filed August], 1881. (Model.)

ing the drum (1 and eccentric-groove cam d;,

Fig. 4, the inside of the cover with piercingneedle in place; Fig. 5, enlarged view of the point of the needle, with the end of the earring in its recess ready for insertion; Fig. 6, forceps for holding the ear-rin g while being inserted; Fig. 7, a modified construction of the apparatus, showing a difierent arrangement of Wel1-known mechanical elements for effecting the same purpose.

The purposes of my invention are, first, to pierce the ear for the insertion of an ear-ring or other proper object, and then to instantly withdraw the needle or piercer by the single impulse of a spring, by which the needle is pro jected through the ear and retracted so quickly as to be painless; secondly, to insert with the piercing-needle an ear-ring or other object by the same impulse or at the same instant of time that the hole is punched therefor, and to permit the ear-ring, 860., to remain lodged in the incision. The hole is bored, the ear-ring inserted, and the needle withdrawn at a single instantaneous operation.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, at consists of a cylindrical case, a, at or near the center or axis of which there is a stud, b, that projects through the bottom of the case and forms the shank of handle I), by which the stud can be revolved to wind up the coiled spring 0, affixed by its inner end thereto. Just outside the case there is a ratchet-wheel, b, affixed to and turning with the handle that is stopped by a spring-pawl, b A hollow drum, (1, is centered and turns on the stud 1) within the case, and inc'loses the coiled spring 0, the outer end of which is affixed to the rim of the drum. On the face of this drum (seen in Fig. 2) there is an eccentric or cam groove, cl,into which a stud,

' right line.

6, (see Fig. 4,).f1ts. This stud is on a slide, to which the. needle or piercer c is attached, so that when the drum (1 makes a revolution, impelled by spring 0, the needle is driven forward radially and back to its former position in a To prevent the drum from making more than a single revolution there is a mov 'able guard-catcher stationary projection, f,

from the inside of the case, (see Fig. 3,) that comes in contact with a projectiomf, on the drum and stops it. Before the drum is ready for action it must be turned back or released from projectionf and be held by the springcatch or trigger, g, in contact withf, as in Fig. 3, by which the drum can be released for another revolution. To give the spring proper tension it is wound up by turning the handle I), like a watch.

The cover h, Fig. 4, is hinged .or otherwise attached to the case, having a projection or slide-block, h, affixed to its inner surface, forming a guide, through which the needle slides. The needle is cylindrical and has a groove or slot formed in one side '(see Fig. 5) from the pointbackward. The point may be made conical or triangular, with lancet-shaped point, or of any other form found best for easy piercing, and it should be quite sharp. Directly over the piercere there is a radial slot through the cover in the line of motion, which serves as aguide to the needle-slide e, and in which slides the forceps-block i, that is carried forward by the needle-slide. This block 5 has a groove in it to put the ear-ring in, where it is held by the movable eccentric-jaw of the forceps, or other suitable device that will firmly hold the point of the ear-ring in the groove of the needle until it is inserted in the ear, and then instantly re lease it from the instrument, while the needle retreats without carrying it back. The instrument, being entirely freed, can be instantly removedfrom the ear, leaving the ear-ring in place.

To hold the ear firmly while being piercedI employ a spring-forceps, m, hinged in proper position to the case so as to embrace the lobe of the car at the point opposite the point of the needle with a proper pressure to resist the thrust of the needle through it. A soft cap or pad may be placed loosely upon this, into which the needle is thrust. This cap can slip off when the instrument is removed, if found desirable.

I contemplate other modified applications of the impulse of a spring to thrust forward and retract a needle or piercer-such, for instance, as otherwise connecting the slide of the needle with the drum by a pitman instead of the cam groove. Anothertypeisshownin Fig. 7,where, instead of using a drum, the needle-slide e is attached to a togglejoint, n, the upper end of which is jointed to the case properly formed therefor. The center joint of the toggle is coupled with a slide-rod,p, that extends into the hollow handle q, where it is surrounded by aspiral spring, by which itis forced forward,car rying thisjoint past the center to the same distance on the opposite side of the center line as it starts from. This movement causes the needle-slide to move forward and back by the single impulse of the spring, as in the other figure. The collar on rod 19 has a stud, r, on it, that works in a slot, 8, in the case-handle, and when set, as in the drawings, may have a bayonet or other catch to hold it ready for action. The other details are simila-rto those firstdescribed, and need not be repeated.

I claim the following as my invention in the above:

1. The combination, by mechanism substantially as herein described, of a slide bearing a piercing-needle, and having a reciprocating movement, with a. spring by which the needle is made to move in both directions by the continuous action of the spring in one direction, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The grooved or recessed needle, as described, in an ear-piercin g apparatus formed to receive the point of the ear-ring, 850., to be inserted with the needle, as above specified.

3. The combination of an ear-ring with an ear-piercin g needle, substantially as described. by means of a holder that unites them, and moves forward with the needle, so as to carry the ear-ring through the ear at the same time that it is pierced, substantially as herein specified.

4. The detached movable forceps for holding the ear-ring in the groove of the needle, in combination with the needle-slide, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The forceps or holder for holding the wire or shank of an ear-ring to be inserted with the needle, as described, in combination with a stud or projection by which the forceps are opened to release said ear-ring after it is inserted, substantially as specified.

JOHN JAMES GREENOUGH.

Witnesses:

ALBERT B. MORGAN, JEsPER G. MORGAN. 

